Lately, I have had some great conversations and email exchanges with fellow believers about whether or not the institutional church is wrong. What I have found challenging to do is move people from the position of trying to prove whether it is right or wrong to evaluating the TRUTHFULNESS of today's church system. It seems that my brethren agree with all of the things that are bad about today's church system, but are willing to tolerate them for the sake of what supposedly works. Indeed, this is a prime example of "good enough" being an enemy to "correct."
My argument is simple: Why are we tolerating a system that breeds abuse, unscriptural teachings, and spiritual slavery and dependence when the scriptures teach a completely different way to be the church. In other words, why are we doing it OUR way and not GOD'S way? It doesn't matter what good you think comes out of doing what is convenience, traditional, or well-intentioned. For every Christian testimony you can find, I can find hundreds of same testimonies from other denominations and even other religions. We cannot be subjective with how we explore and express the reality of the Church to the world - we have to be concretely rooting in the Word of God as the only real authority on what the Church is.
But, let's stop whining about what is so wrong about the institutional church because its imperfections are too obvious to argue about or ignore. We know how the world sees us. We also understand how the western church culture is viewed by our brethren in other countries - as self-centered, egotistical, and self-serving. We teach people to name and claim boats and cars. But, when our African brothers do that for food, they die of starvation. Our theology is twisted by everything we have become, and it justifies every popular trend that flies by. So, what are we to do?
Phase 1: Tearing Down the Stronghold
If our goal is to be the Church in which Jesus is the cornerstone, two core teachings must be discarded immediately. The Law of Tithes must be taught as the Old Testament, Law-based form of provision for the priests and not a New Testament form of giving. A thorough examination of every tithing scripture in the Bible will quickly show you that what we teach about the tithe in our churches in false. Church history will reveal that the Christians did not believe in tithing until the 8th century. It was never a part of the Church that Jesus built. Instead, it now robs the true Church of its wealth, buying lavish buildings and mansions for its leaders, and funding work that the Church itself should be doing with its own hands.
The second teaching that must be removed is our unscriptural teachings on church leadership, authority of Pastors, and submission. Jesus explicitly forbade us from exercising authority over other believers, giving the Roman's top-down authority system as an example of the wrong way to relate to each other. He taught mutual submission and servanthood of all believers. He also taught priesthood and kingship of every believer, not just the self-proclaimed "ordained" ministers of today. Pastoral authority is not even implied in scripture. There is not even one positive example of single-elder rule.
Admittedly, these two changes would cause our modern church system to collapse, due to a lack of visionary leadership and funding. But, why would we want to follow the visions of men while exploiting people for 10% of their income without a scriptural basis. Perhaps, the things that support our current church system are the very things that fuel its problems. But, what would the Church look like if we had to find a model that could be supported without these two issues?
Phase 2: Walking Among Kings
I once told a brother in the faith that I chose not to be a prince among princes because I wanted to spend my life walking with kings. The problem with much of our modern theology is that it creates an unscriptural need for inclusion. It forces us to water down and cheapen salvation in order to accommodate society. We do big alter calls and feel great when we see thousands of people walk up to the altar crying and making vows to God. But, that is not what makes a believer. The Biblical version of regeneration calls for a true change of focus. It is a supernatural response to the heart of a human being when it is turned to God. They begin to move from being selfish to being selfless. This is the true sign of Holy Spirit baptism and son ship. When we become children of God, we begin to resemble our Father God and our Brother and Lord, Jesus. A prayer and acknowledgement doesn't do that, so we have to stop pretending it does.
We must stop "throwing our pearls to swine" by sustaining God-Bless-You-Brother relationships. Instead, we must begin developing relationships with those that are showing fruit. This does not mean that we ignore those looking for mentorship (which is not leadership, but teaching by example), but that we do not waste time and effort on dependent relationships while losing focus on our meaningful fellowship with our brother and sisters in Christ. Raise the standard for those who are dead to resurrect to instead of lowering it so they don't feel so dead.
Phase 3: Follow Hunger and the Voice of the Master
A pastor once told me that he was called to lead because we had the gift of a shepherd. But, this just showed how little he knew about shepherds. You see, a shepherd does not lead the sheep at all, but gently guides and protects them as they follow something completely different - their hunger and the voice of the master. Mutual submission is about being hungry together and following the voice of God throughout our lives. It's in mutual accountability that we find true relationship, passion, and ultimately the will of God. With no one to give us weekly 45-minute editorials ABOUT the Word, we can study and discover together what God says by study the Word itself. No more three point sermons or pastoral approvals in order to use your gifts. The voice of the Holy Spirit becomes the earnest desire of each believer untainted by denominational slants.
In short, we work as brother and sisters who are no more qualified than the other to advance the Kingdom without agenda, advantage, or abuse. We can all invest and acknowledge our different gifting without titles or assignments other than being Sons of God.
Phase 4: Meeting Our Objectives
Jesus taught a faith that was driven by an extreme love for God expressed through our love for each other. He stated that the world would recognize and understand Him through our expressions of that love. That is the first main objective - building a Church that puts our expressions of love for each other above all things, lifting Jesus to the forefront of our culture. Saying, "I love Jesus" does not mean anything to a world that does not understand love. But, saying, "I would die for my brothers" is enough to make anyone do a double-take, especially in the time we live in.
The second objective is to address true social issues that are affecting those who cannot stand up for themselves. Widows, orphans, and the poor are examples given in the Bible. But, the recurring theme of Jesus extended beyond those three designations. He was obsessed with standing for those who were true victims - prisoners, the blind, and the oppressed. While we fight for legislation against gay marriage, the institution turns a blind eye to issues such as racism, world hunger, and the aids epidemic. While we raise money to build prayer centers, children are dying every day of physical abuse. We feed the poor once a month and feel good about ourselves, but fail to get in the trenches, where the true victims sit waiting for our arrival.
The true Church is an extension - a mirror image - of Christ. It extends the mission that Christ declared for Himself and makes it the main mission. With all of the excess removed, we can begin focusing on meeting those objectives out of love, concern, and obedience to God. Jesus is coming to get His Bride, the Church that He has prepared for Himself. How many of us are truly part of Her Body?
This Is an Evolution
I strongly believe that everything we have done has brought us to this point. Jesus created the first 'ecclesia' with His disciples. These men were equal to each other and worked together to fulfill His purpose. They were taught that servitude to each other made them greater. They funded their own ministries and focused all giving on meeting the needs of the poor. Believers sustained them during their prolonged visits, but owed them nothing when they went back home. This is how the Church was grown, one relationship at a time.
Can we return to that? Are we too far gone to make the changes necessary to shed centuries of misunderstanding and abandon traditions that short-circuit His intent? Do we REALLY want to follow God's Word, or are we content with following our own editorials?
One thing is for sure - our Lord expects things to be in order when He returns. He is anxious to come and rescue a Bride that He will recognize because of how similar She is to Him. But, as He comes to embrace Her, the world around them will go up in flames in preparation for His rule in a new world. I would rather be in the middle of that embrace than in the chaos of God's wrath.